Stitching machine



May 19', 1936. c, L NDT 2,041,405

STITCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1928 Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in stitching machines which are designed more expressly for the purpose of sewing leather or other heavy or tough substances and in which an awl punctures the hole through which the needle follows. The invention relates particularly to stitchers which employ straight awls and needles but the same principles involved could be employed in those stitchers using curved awls and needles, and the objects of the improvements are, first, to provide a guide for the awl which will direct its course, and second, to provide a guide for the needle which will prevent it from deviating from its predetermined course. Machines of this type are used extensively in replacing soles on old shoes and in actual practice much inefficiency prevails in the use of existing machines which are without guides for the awls or needles for the reasons that the perforations made by the old line of stitches in the welt of the shoe, and the existence of staples often present in the stitch down type of welt, cause the awl to deflect from its true course in many instances resulting in a breaking of the needle as it endeavors to follow a hole out of line with its true course.

To prevent thread, awl and needle breakage and to insure more accurate stitching, to enable the use of smaller awls and needles than the existing machines employ, and to create improved means for cutting a channel for the stitches to imbed themselves in, are objects of my invention.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front view of my awl guide showing its relation to the essential parts of an existing machine of this type. Figure 2 a side view of the needle guide showing means employed to connect same to the feed block of an existing machine; Figure 3 a side view of the awl guide removed from the machine, Figure 4 a top view of needle plate, Figure 5 a side view of presser foot showing relation of guide and awl to same, and Figure 6 is a bottom View of the presser foot and contacting parts. Fig. '7 is a top plan view of arm 28 and connection of plate I.

Figure 1 also presents a front view of the needle guide and its relation to the awl. The awl guide 6 and needle guide plate 1 are designed to be attachable to present day machines of the straight awl and needle type, and in operation function as follows: When the presser foot 8 is lifted up to admit of the entrance of the material to be stitched, the action of the machine follows through the intermediary of the connections to the cams of the machine. The awl bar l carries the awl 9 downward to contact with the work, and the awl guide 6 follows with it as the spring l2 holds it in position against check screw I3. This screw l3 together with screw l4 holds the awl in place in awl bar 10 and are screwed into threaded holes in the awl bar with I their heads projecting into slot in the awl guide. This slot serves to prevent lateral displacement of the guide. As the lower edge of the awl guide 6 comes into contact with the work, the awl continues on its way through the work and the spring l2 yields enough to permit of even and adjusting pressure to meet the different thickness of the work. The lower end of the awl bar I0 is at line l6 when the awl is out of Work, and the awl guide has an opening extendl5 ing below this point which permits of the action as described. The awl guide has a flat side at its lower end to accommodate the edge of the presser foot 8. This enables the awl to operate adjoining the thin edge of the presser foot and the object is to enable the operator to sew close against the shoe when stitching soles on shoes.

In practice it has been found most satisfactory to use a taper pointed awl or wedge point awl as shown in the drawing, in connection with the awl guide as this sort of a pointed awl does not chisel out any portion of the leather or material being stitched but instead wedges out a hole for the needle to follow, which more readily closes up around the thread after the stitching operation.

The awl guide 6 is provided with a recessed opening at its top end surrounding the awl bar, designed for the admission of the spring I2; it is also provided with a slot ll, the function of which is to permit a yielding pressure to be exerted against the awl bar. The sleeve I8 is mounted in the frame of the machine and permits of pressure being exerted against it by turning threaded screw I 9, in frame 20. This pressure operates to take up wear in both the awl bar and awl guide as such develops.

The channel cutter 2| stands up through opening 23 in needle plate 24 to engage the work, and sets in a, socket in plate 7 and is adjustable up and down to enable a shallow or deeper cut in the work by use of adjusting screw 22, which threads in the said plate I and bears against the lower end of the channel cutter 2|, when turned up.

After the awl 9 passes through the work and returns, the needle 25 in needle bar 26 rises to enter the hole made by the awl, but before entering the work it passes through guide hole 11 in needle guide plate 1, and through hole opening 23 in the needle plate 24, and on through the work.

As will be seen by the drawing the hole in the plate I, through which the needle operates and the walls of which serve to guide the needle, has enlarged approaches thereto the object of which is to enable a more sure entry of the point of the needle into its guide hole in the guide plate 1, for in case of a slightly sprung condition of the needle or a vibrating condition of the free end thereof the needle might not make entry into its guide but might instead break in case a funnel shaped entryway to the guide was not provided. The action of the machine then lifts the pressure foot and the feed of the machine then causes the needle, the needle bar and the feed block 21, to move to the left the distance of the length of the stitch desired. This feed action is imparted to the arm 28, as it is secured firmly to the said feed block.

The adjustment to gain precise alignment of the needle guide hole 11 with the path of the needle is effected as follows: The two screws 30 are threaded into the plate I and have their respective shanks extended through the slot 88 in arm 28; when these screws are tightened their heads bind the arm 28 and plate 1 together in tight relationship. The said slot 88 permits of movement of the said plate I to the right or left to gain precise alignment of the needle guide hole 11 with the path of the needle when the screws 36 are loosened.

In order to adjust the needle guide hole 11 toward the viewer and into the path of the needle the two screws 30 are loosened and the screw 29 is tightened; this screw 29 is threaded into the arm 28 and after passing through the said arm bears against the plate 1 and holds it away from close contact with the arm 28 at that end of the plate I to the extent depending on how much the screw 29 is turned up. The screws 30 are then tightened securely and the position of the needle guide hole ll in its forward or backward relationship to the path of the needle is thereby controlled for the reason that plate I is always at close contact with the extreme end of arm 28 and in adjustable relationship to arm 28 at the end of plate 7 against which the said screw 29, bears.

The presser foot 8, is made with a removable lower rim 35, and attaches to the sleeve 3|, on both sides with screws 32. Screw 33 attaches the said sleeve to the presser foot bar 34.

As will be seen by the drawing the rim 35 has an extension upward and also that the sleeve 3|, to which the rim attaches, has an overhang or extension outward and the object of these extensions are to provide means to hold the upper of the shoe away from the path of the awl and needle to prevent injury to the upper of the shoe. 7 This is of special value when the operator of the machine is sewing full length soles on shoes for the upper must be held out of danger of injury from the awl and needle when sewing the shank.

After the feed is accomplished the needle drops down out of engagement and the feed action returns it in readiness for the next stitch. This return action causes the channel cutter to cut a groove in the material being sewed in which the stitches will sink themselves, as the presser foot is exerting pressure on the work at that time and holds it firmly. It is practical to use either the awl guide or the needle guide separately, and

by the use of either one of them a measure of improvement is assured. I therefore claim them separately and together as follows:

I claim:

1. The combination in a stitching machine which emeploys an awl and needle, of a presser foot equipped with a rim for fitting on and engaging the welt of a shoe and holding it during the stitching operation, means for holding the upper of the shoe away from the path of the awl and needle comprising an extension on one side above the rim and in connection therewith, a taper pointed awl mounted to enable the perforating end thereof to contact and operate alongside the said rim and perforate guide holes in the welt of the shoe for the needle to follow, and a guide for the awl mounted to contact the perforating end of the said awl and cooperate with the said rim to direct the awl and prevent bending and deflecting thereof from its true course as it functions and make possible the stitching of the soles on shoes which have a slight margin of welt and sole overhang.

2. The combination in a stitching machine which employs an awl and needle, of a presser foot equipped with a rim to fit on and engage the welt of a shoe and hold it during the stitching operation, means for holding the upper of the shoe away from the path of the awl and needle comprising an extension on one side above the said rim in connection therewith and in position to prevent the upper from possible injury by the sharp perforating ends of the awl and needle, a taper pointed awl suitably mounted for perforating guide holes in the welt for the needle to follow, means for guiding the awl contacting the perforating end thereof in position to direct the awl and prevent deflection and bending thereof from its true course as it functions, and

means for cutting a channel in the work in which the stitches will imbed themselves and be protected from wear.

3. The combination in a stitching machine which employs a needle, of a presser foot for bearing on and holding the work having an opening therein through which the needle operates permitting thereby a varying relationship of the needle to the walls of the said opening during the feed of the work as the stitch forming devices function, a needle and suitable means for mounting it, means for guiding the needle comprising a plate with a guide hole therein located in line with the path of the needle for receiving the perforating end of the needle as its functions to thereby direct its course, said guide hole having a funnel-shaped entrance thereto enabling entry of a slightly sprung or bent needle into its guide hole without danger of breakage, and means suitably mounting the said plate enabling adjustment thereof to bring the needle guide hole therein into line with the needles path.

4. The combination in a stitching machine which employs an awl and needle, of a presser foot designed and mounted to bear on the welt of a shoe during the stitching operation and having .a rim for protecting and holding the upper of the shoe away from the line of action of the awl and needle to prevent possible injury to the upper, means for mounting an awl, a taper pointed awl attached to said mounting means in position to perforate the welt of the shoe with guide holes for the needle to follow, a guide for the awl in position to contact the perforating end of the awl as it enters the work to prevent bending and deflecting thereof from true course,

means for mounting the said awl guide, and means for taking up wear and play developing in the means for mounting of the awl and awl guide to insure accuracy of operation, and means for cutting a stitch receiving groove in the work in which to imbed the stitch.

5. The combination in a stitching machine which employs an awl and needle, of means for mounting an awl, an awl attached to said mounting means in position to perforate guide holes in the work for the needle to follow, a guide for the awl in position to contact the perforating course and prevent bending and deflection 0 thereof.

CHARLES L. FLINDT. 

